Abstract
Purpose
Retrospectively, the purpose of this study is to investigate the necessity for early operation for patients with rotator cuff tears and concomitant adhesive capsulitis.
Methods
From March 2013 to March 2017, we conducted a retrospective study on patients with rotator cuff tears and concomitant adhesive capsulitis. We analyzed 32 cases out of 39 cases who have small to medium rotator cuff tears, excluding patients who were unable to follow up over 1 years. We evaluated range of motion, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and Constant score. We compared patients of non-symptom and symptomatic patients related to rotator cuff tear.
Results
Among patients in the 32 cases, 21 cases of total patients improved without discomfort after recovering their range of motion and pain (group 1), and 11 cases were developed symptoms related to rotator cuff tear for the last 1 year (group 2). Average age of group 1 patients was 53.4 years old, and recovered from forward elevation 95.5° to 163.2°, external rotation from 8.5° to 68.7°, mean VAS score improved from 6.2 to 1.2. Average age of group 2 patients was 58.4 years old, and recovered from forward elevation 96.2° to 162.2°, external rotation from 8.1° to 67.8°, mean pain VAS score improved from 6.4 to 4.4. But there was statistically significant difference in pain reduction after restoration of motion compared to asymptomatic group.
Conclusion
We do not need surgical treatment at the same time because the symptoms of rotator cuff tear may not be manifested in patients with rotator cuff tear associated with adhesive capsulitis. Sufficient follow-up should be considered after restoration of shoulder motion related to adhesive capsulitis.
References
1. Grey RG. The natural history of “idiopathic” frozen shoulder. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1978; 60:564.
2. Tauro JC. Stiffness and rotator cuff tears: incidence, arthroscopic findings, and treatment results. Arthroscopy. 2006; 22:581–586.
3. Cho NS, Rhee YG. Functional outcome of arthroscopic repair with concomitant manipulation in rotator cuff tears with stiff shoulder. Am J Sports Med. 2008; 36:1323–1329.
4. Kim YS, Lee HJ, Park I, Im JH, Park KS, Lee SB. Are delayed operations effective for patients with rotator cuff tears and concomitant stiffness? An analysis of immediate versus delayed surgery on outcomes. Arthroscopy. 2015; 31:197–204.
5. Sabzevari S, Kachooei AR, Giugale J, Lin A. One-stage surgical treatment for concomitant rotator cuff tears with shoulder stiffness has comparable results with isolated rotator cuff tears: a systematic review. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2017; 26:e252–e258.
6. Giuseffi S, Field LD, Giel TV 3rd, Brislin BT, Savoie FH 3rd. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with concomitant capsular release. Arthrosc Tech. 2016; 5:e833–e837.
7. Yoo CH, Ahn JH, Kim JH, Chang MJ, Seo SH, Sul EJ. Pathology of the rotator cuff in adhesive capsulitis patients. J Korean Arthrosc Soc. 2007; 11:24–31.
8. Meyer DC, Wieser K, Farshad M, Gerber C. Retraction of supraspinatus muscle and tendon as predictors of success of rotator cuff repair. Am J Sports Med. 2012; 40:2242–2247.
9. Kim KC, Rhee KJ, Shin HD, Byun KY. Physical examinations of rotator cuff tear. J Korean Shoulder Elbow Soc. 2008; 11:13–18.
10. Gwark JY, Gahlot N, Kam M, Park HB. Is the frozen shoulder classification a reliable assessment? Clin Shoulder Elbow. 2018; 21:82–86.
11. Yildiz F, Sari A, Pulatkan A, Ucan V, Kochai A, Bilsel K. Effect of nonoperative concomitant intraarticular pathologies on the outcome of arthroscopic capsular release for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2018; 52:245–248.
12. Ueda Y, Sugaya H, Takahashi N, et al. Rotator cuff lesions in patients with stiff shoulders: a prospective analysis of 379 shoulders. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2015; 97:1233–1237.
13. Rodeo SA, Hannafin JA, Tom J, Warren RF, Wickiewicz TL. Immunolocalization of cytokines and their receptors in adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. J Orthop Res. 1997; 15:427–436.
14. Lundberg BJ. The frozen shoulder: clinical and radiographical observations: the effect of manipulation under general anesthesia: structure and glycosaminoglycan content of the joint capsule. Local bone metabolism. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl. 1969; 119:1–59.
15. Moosmayer S, Tariq R, Stiris M, Smith HJ. The natural history of asymptomatic rotator cuff tears: a three-year follow-up of fifty cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2013; 95:1249–1255.
16. Yamamoto A, Takagishi K, Osawa T, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of a rotator cuff tear in the general population. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2010; 19:116–120.
17. Won JS, Lee WS, Park JH, Ko SN, Seo IW. A follow-up study of rotator cuff tear using magnetic resonance imaging. J Korean Orthop Assoc. 2018; 53:38–43.
18. Page MJ, Green S, Kramer S, et al. Manual therapy and exercise for adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014; (8):CD011275.
19. Arslan S, Celiker R. Comparison of the efficacy of local corticosteroid injection and physical therapy for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis. Rheumatol Int. 2001; 21:20–23.
20. Diercks RL, Stevens M. Gentle thawing of the frozen shoulder: a prospective study of supervised neglect versus intensive physical therapy in seventy-seven patients with frozen shoulder syndrome followed up for two years. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2004; 13:499–502.
21. Ogilvie-Harris DJ, Biggs DJ, Fitsialos DP, MacKay M. The resistant frozen shoulder: manipulation versus arthroscopic release. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1995; (319):238–248.
22. Segmuller HE, Taylor DE, Hogan CS, Saies AD, Hayes MG. Arthroscopic treatment of adhesive capsulitis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1995; 4:403–408.